Sonny Hotchkins - In Between Blues

Sonny Hotchkins

 Sonny Hotchkins is another mostly unfamiliar blues man found by our associates that are blues aficionados. His guitar playing is fine blues music making, the lyrics are rather enigmatic and are the words of an old man feeling the closeness of death. His hands are a great concern, as he's diabetic and has peripheral neuropathy plus carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, and other nerve damages brought about by manual labor he did for most of his life, plus the guitar has taken its toll on them as well. He wears carpal tunnel splints most of the time, even when he plays the guitar. 

The sun’ll shine tomorrow, 

But it won’t shine for me. 

I’m stuck in a doldrum, 

Like a ship stuck at sea. 

 

 I don’t know how I got here, 

But just look at my face, 

Got a stone expression, 

Cain't find my place. 

 

Not unhappy, but not happy too 

I just got the ol’ in between blues. 

 

 Gimme some guidance, 

Tell me what do I do, 

Don't wanna do nothin', 

but I'm bored and I'm blue. 

 

My fingers hurt and burn, 

Hands are tinglin' too. 

Got the ol' arthritis, 

really nothin' I can do. 

 

 Tell me the answers if there is some, 

I'm beginnin' to think that there ain't . 

 

All them things I used to like to do,

 Don't mean nothin' anymore. 

Look in the mirror, 

and all I see is a fool. 

 

My mind is goin',can feel it slip,

 Mem'ries clash in my head. 

It makes me wonder, oh lord, 

how long 'fore I'm dead. 

 

Ain't scared of dyin',least I say so, 

But it don't matter if I am or not. 

 

Around lots of people, 

yet still feel all alone. 

They all look so sad, 

With faces of gray stone. 

 

Wonder which one will it be? 

That starts my last breath. 

Got so many afflictions, 

Which one will give me rest? 

 

The in between blues, 

I don't give a damn, 

Take me now, take me late. 

The in between blues,

It don't matter a damn, 

In the end, it'll be the same fate.